vitali Klitschko vs J C Gomez 3-21-09

[Hunter]

Typical Vitali fight where he just wears down the opponent and clobbers him into submission. Why is it that the heavyweight fighters chose not to go to the body when they fight these 2 brothers? If there was one weakness that these 2 behemoths have is that they like to fight with their hands to their waist and nobody takes advantage of this. I hope David Haye does his homework and mixes up his arsenal when and if he fights Vlad instead of just headhunting. Someone should call Mike Mccallum or MAB for advise on going to the body in the heavies because it seems to be a forgotten art there.

I think if you went to the body on the Klitchskos you would be asking for trouble, especially on Wlad because he has fast hands and when you go to the body you leave yourself open upstairs and they would make you pay. The body on the Klitchskos is pretty solid and would take a while to have an impact. Besides, one of the main reasons you go to the body is so the fighter brings their hands down......Both brothers fight with their left hand down already....

I see your points but I really think a good left to the liver might change the tide if someone knew how to throw it especially when they over extend with their right hands or when they swing wide with their left hooks the way Vitali did a few times tonight. I know it can be easier said then done because I'm not in there with them but I really think if a fighter with speed and power and could feint alot could have a really good night against these 2. Almost like a young Tyson was when he started out.

I see where you are coming from but the Klitchskos are masters of keeping the distance and if you went to the body you would be reaching and that would leave you wide open upstairs.....

The other thing is these brothers have power in both hands. it seemed like Gomez tryed to come out fast and swarm Vitali but once you eat a couple shots (even jabs) you think twice.....Vitali didnt even seem to be landing any clean jabs and it seemed like Gomez's right eye was swelling shut by the 3 or 4th round.....

[XaduBoxer]

I wonder if Vitali peed on that paper towel hes dapping Gomez head with

Gomez was sweating heavily on the forehead seeing the massive size advantage of Vitali... Vitali politely wiped the sweat while thinking "this is the area where my jab will land all night"...

Sounds about right, I just hope Gomez can at least give a good account of himself.

Vitali's jabs did land a bit lower than what he originally thought of... Kudos to Gomez for giving a good account of himself...

[XaduBoxer]

More pics...

[El Kabong]

I guess you could say Juan Carlos just got his WORST EVER BEATING huh?



I liked what Vitali said before the fight though "I really like Juan Carlos Gomez, he's a good friend of mine, it's a pity I have to beat him up"....hahaha say what you will about The Klitschko's but they are very classy when it comes to trash talk.

[XaduBoxer]

I guess you could say Juan Carlos just got his WORST EVER BEATING huh?



I liked what Vitali said before the fight though "I really like Juan Carlos Gomez, he's a good friend of mine, it's a pity I have to beat him up"....hahaha say what you will about The Klitschko's but they are very classy when it comes to trash talk.

It's true, Vitali and Gomez were friends and sparring partners... It's really a pity you have to beat up your friend... but it's only boxing, nothing personal...

[Hulk]

I guess you could say Juan Carlos just got his WORST EVER BEATING huh?



I liked what Vitali said before the fight though "I really like Juan Carlos Gomez, he's a good friend of mine, it's a pity I have to beat him up"....hahaha say what you will about The Klitschko's but they are very classy when it comes to trash talk.

The Klitschkos are faggots.

[DAWGSWIN]

Ugly fight in a small ring. Anybody figure out the point deduction that didn't matter? Maybe I'll see something on the replay.

[WelshDevilRob]

Vitali was breathing heavily from the 4th onwards and at times looked cumbersome and crude. Gomez never busy enough but did stagger Vitali.

Both should retire - the skill level was poor. Like watching two old men fight.

Compared to 2002 -Vitalis jab was not as good, he was slower, his timing was off and he got shook by a former Cruiserweight who hasn't much power. It was just so cumbersome and Gomez let me down but he looked his age - 35. Gomez before his eye went found Vitali easy to hit and even shook him - not bad for a non puncher.

Gomez shut eye ended the fight for him and his ambition - he simply couldn't see out of it and in the end wanted a way out - but Vitali was so knackered it took him 2 rounds more than it should of.

The fight on a skills level was terrible.

Now the VK charade will roll on with Maskaev. Though I think Vitali might call it a day after that fight - he found that alot tougher than he thought he would over his old sparring partner. But some still are fooled into thinking Vitali is the fighter he once was and at 37 he simply isn't.

[El Kabong]

DAWGSWIN, I read on ESPN.com that the point deduction was for "gouging"

Rob, Vitali was fine, this is the type of fight you can't take much from because the guys knew each other so well....did we learn anything from Rahman-Barrett Vitali's jab isn't as good as Wladimir's....Vitali paws his jab and Vitali likes to land more power punches.

Maybe Vitali didn't want to look TOO dominant to coax Valuev into a match.

[jon09]

jon09, not only are the defenses of the two brothers pretty solid but they are both so athletic that it is hard to move and get an angle on them even after they miss a punch.

It's a good idea but it's extremely hard to do and there is no telling how well those guys take body shots....I've never ever seen them be bothered by them and they have definently been hit to the body before.

I think the best way to beat either brother is to stay in the pocket and keep them from tying up or pushing off. And you have to either have great defense or a hell of a chin yourself to withstand what they bring to the table.

Yes I have seen fighters tag their body here and there but have never seen anyone really dedicate themselves and chop them down. Most of the challengers will punch up the middle with a jab and then throw wide haymakers to the head in the event that they will land against them. I just cannot see these guys existing at the lower weight classes with their limited punch array. I mean take Vlad for instance, he did not throw 1 uppercut in the Rahman fight or even try to punch to the body when the opportunity was there. And JCG was pretty much fighting 1 handed against Vitali with that pawing jab and horrible left cross that he kept lunging in with. I just do not understand that when you are boxing in the professionals and fighting for a major championship then why would you not come in shape and fight with everything you have to beat the other guy? I don't mean to ramble but it is frustrating to see these 3 big heavyweight champions in Valuev,Vlad and Vitali that to me are very limited and no challenger is good enough to take them out and I don't see and any challenger in the near future which is sad to see.

[Cortez The Killer]

Teddy spent half the time commenting on the fight (if that?) and the other half criticizing the fighters/promoters/event every chance he had.

He stops just shy of criticizing the viewer for watching it



I agree with most of you that although that Vitali didn't look very impressive. But with his size/age/injuries he's not going to be getting any better.

I would favor Haye to beat the Vitali that showed up last night and probably the Vitali that will show up to the ring for the rest of his career.

[El Kabong]

I don't mean to ramble but it is frustrating to see these 3 big heavyweight champions in Valuev,Vlad and Vitali that to me are very limited and no challenger is good enough to take them out and I don't see and any challenger in the near future which is sad to see.

I can understand some of what you posted but when honestly did we have a heavyweight who dedicated an attack to the body? Mike Tyson? Joe Frazier? Now look at their size and fighting style, sure Frazier was kind of tall to fight the way he did but for the most part these guys were short, they fought in a crouch, and they had short arms.

Wlad and Vitali don't go to the body a lot because they like to keep distance, they don't want to give up their height, and hell if you can beat someone upside the head and they can't stop your attack then why change anything

Nicolay Valuev shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as Wlad and Vitali...Valuev is a freak show, while Wlad and Vitali are legitimate fighters willing to fight and beat the best out there.


Cortez, Teddy Atlas does love getting on his soapbox....as for your statements re: David Haye, Wladimir and Vitali will knock him out, it won't even be close

[Cortez The Killer]

I don't mean to ramble but it is frustrating to see these 3 big heavyweight champions in Valuev,Vlad and Vitali that to me are very limited and no challenger is good enough to take them out and I don't see and any challenger in the near future which is sad to see.

I can understand some of what you posted but when honestly did we have a heavyweight who dedicated an attack to the body? Mike Tyson? Joe Frazier? Now look at their size and fighting style, sure Frazier was kind of tall to fight the way he did but for the most part these guys were short, they fought in a crouch, and they had short arms.

Wlad and Vitali don't go to the body a lot because they like to keep distance, they don't want to give up their height, and hell if you can beat someone upside the head and they can't stop your attack then why change anything

Nicolay Valuev shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as Wlad and Vitali...Valuev is a freak show, while Wlad and Vitali are legitimate fighters willing to fight and beat the best out there.


Cortez, Teddy Atlas does love getting on his soapbox....as for your statements re: David Haye, Wladimir and Vitali will knock him out, it won't even be close

I realized after I posted I can see Haye beating that version of Vitali I didn't really mean it..

Still, looking at last night...Vitali should have stopped Gomez 2-3 rounds before he did. Granted, Gomez presented no risk to him and he knew the fight was in the bag, but for a guy of his experience he got REAL sloppy in there during the 6th or 7th round when he was trying to finish Gomez.

Peter stood right in front of Vitali and acted as a punching bag. Gomez had some good movement, still was more hittable then Vitali took advantage of.

Also, for being 230 Gomez absorbed those right hands of Vitali pretty well. It was more of a "ouch that really hurt" then the eraser right hand that drops opponents immediately to the canvas that Wlad has.

So not that I would say I favor Haye versus Vitali but I think he has a lot better chance of defeating V.K. than he does Wlad. I think it would be a close fight.

[El Kabong]

#1 JCG is a southpaw and Vitali has never done well vs them...Byrd he was winning the fight but missed punches bad enough to screw his shoulder up and vs Corrie Sanders it was the only fight bar the Lewis fight where he legitimately got rocked.

#2 Vitali was gunning for the early KO and he admitted he was fighting in a hectic manner and that he didn't just focus on making contact in the early rounds.


I think JCG should be happy with his performance, lasting 9 rounds with Vitali isn't something everyone can do. I always wondered why JCG never got any big fights.

[XaduBoxer]

More pix... Vitali "pumping" on his friend and partner (sparring) Juan Carlos...